The probe carries a six-wheeled moon rover called "Yutu," or "Jade Rabbit," the goddess' pet. After landing on a fairly flat, Earth-facing part of the moon, the rover was scheduled to separate from Chang'e eight hours later and embark on a three-month scientific exploration.

China sent its first taikonaut into space in 2003, becoming the third nation after Russia and the United States to achieve manned space travel independently.